2016 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards winners announced

South Africa’s shining culinary talents were honoured at the 2016 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards on yesterday, November 20. The Grand Arena at Grand West in Cape Town was transformed into a luxurious secret garden for the Sunday lunch of the year, where the stars of South Africa’s restaurant industry were celebrated.

SA’s best guide to SA’s best food, Eat Out is one of South Africa’s most loved and respected food brands. What started as the country’s definitive restaurant guide eighteen years ago has evolved into a brand covering all aspects of food and operating on multiple media platforms.

For an unprecedented fifth consecutive year, The Test Kitchen was named Restaurant of the Year.

Gregory Czarnecki of The Restaurant at Waterkloof won the coveted title of Eat Out S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna Chef of the Year. Czarnecki also collaborated with six other top chefs on the lavish lunch for the event.

La Colombe, situated on the Silvermist Wine Estate in Constantia, again took second place on the prestigious list of Top 10 restaurants. This restaurant was also recognised for maintaining the highest level of service with the Eat Out Nespresso Service Excellence Award and the first-ever Eat Out John Psillos Award for Outstanding Contribution to Service, which was awarded to front-of-house manager Jennifer Hugé. Below is the detailed list of the 2016 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards winners:Eat Out S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna Chef of the Year
Gregory Czarnecki of The Restaurant at Waterkloof

Eat Out John Psillos Award for Outstanding Contribution to Service
Jennifer Hugé of La Colombe

Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award
The Table at De Meye

Woolworths TASTE Eat Out Bursary winner
Ayanda Matomela

Abigail Donnelly, one of the judges said, “2016 has probably been my most exciting and inspiring year of eating out. Chefs are capturing our imaginations with imaginative, emotive cooking, and fine producers are elevated yet again. South Africa’s restaurants really are world-class. I’m particularly thrilled about the amazing restaurants popping up in Johannesburg right now, where a new generation of legends is leading the way.” Selvin Govender, Marketing Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said “Once again these fine-dining connoisseurs have displayed their talents in their pursuit of excellence. I congratulate all the winners and thank them for showcasing South Africa’s incredible talents.”

The 2017 Eat Out magazine, filled with professional reviews and curated content on South Africa’s top 500 restaurants, will go on sale in November after the awards.
For more information, visit www.eatout.co.za. For a full list of the winners go to www.eatout.co.za/article/winners-2016-eat-mercedes-benz-restaurant-awards/. Follow @Eat_Out on Twitter and search #EatOutAwards for all the awards excitement. Visit Eat Out’s Instagram page @eatoutguide and Facebook page www.facebook.com/EatOutMag for photographs of the awards celebration.